Concrete flume.



S. L. STOVAL'L. CONCRETE FLUMB.

APPLICATION TILED MAY 8, 1912.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

INVENTOR.

517/771 L. Srowaum. BY 2 Z /M ATTORNEYJ GOLUI'IA ILANOGRAPH CO"WASHINO'M, D- C- FFQ SMITH L. sTovALL, or VISALIA, CALIFORNIA.

CONCRETE FLUME.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Application filed. May 8, 1912. Serial No. 695,907.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SMITH L. STOVALL, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Visalia, Tulare county, State of Cali fornia, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete Flumes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The invention relates to concrete fiumes for carrying water andespecially to fiunies which are designed to carry large quantities ofwater.

The object of the invention is to provide a fiuine which is simpler ofconstruction, cheaper and more durable than flumes which have been builtheretofore.

Another object of the invention is to provide a concrete flume in whichthe various elements are molded in sections, and which when assembledproduce joints which may be readily and efficiently sealed.

The invention possesses other advantageous features, which with theforegoing, will be set forth at length in the following descriptionwhere I shall outline in full that form of embodiment of the inventionwhich I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying andforming part of the present specification. The novelty of the inventionwill be included in the claims suc ceeding said description. From thisit will be apparent that I do not limit myself to the showing made bysuch drawings and description, as I may adopt many variations within thescope of my invention as expressed in said claims.

Referring to the drawings .Figure l is a perspective view of a portionof an assem bled fiume constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken through the floor of theflume.

The various elements forming the flume are formed of concrete, suitablyreinforced, and are made in sections which, after having set, aretransported to the place where the fiume is being built. The sectionsmay be cast upon the ground where theflume is to be built but on accountof the general rough nature of the country this procedure is notadvisable.

The flume consists of the side members 2, which other than serving assides for the flunie act as beams to carry the bottom and the water inthe fiume. These side members 2 are provided with flanges 3 on theirlower ends upon which rest the bottom slabs 4.

These floor slabs 4c are formed of a width equal to the width of thefiume and generally of a length less than their width. The side edges ofthese slabs't are beveled as seen at 5, so that when the slabs areassembled in the flume an angular channel is formed extending across theentire width of the flume.

The flume is supported upon the cross members 6 which are spaced apart asuitable distance, which are in turn sup orted by the posts 7 restingupon proper 'ootings 8 on the ground. These posts are also formed ofconcrete and are suitably braced by the cross rods 9. The side slabs 2are of such length that they extend from one cross member 6 to the next;the joint between the edges of the slabs occurring substantially on thecenter line of the cross member. hen the side slabs are in position, thefloor slabs are placed with their ends resting upon the flanges 3 on theside slabs.

The cross members 6 are longer than the width of the flume, so that theends thereof project beyond the side slabs. The joint between the sideslabs is sealed by means of a concrete web 12 which is cast in placeafter the side slabs have been placed in position, This web 12 is ofsufiicient size so that the concrete may set to produce a tight jointand at the same time it acts as a brace for the side of the flume.

The joints between the floor slabs are made by filling the angulargroove with concrete 13, which on account of the size of the groove, mayset and form a tight; joint. The joint between the floor slabs and theside slabs is sealed by a bank 14 of concrete placed along the joint.The concrete for sealing the various joints is mixed after a section ofthe flume has been assembled and is then put in place insuch quantitiesthat it may set properly and the construction is designed to permit ofsuch quantities being used. Heretofore, it has been the general customto attempt to seal joints between concrete structures by the use ofgrout, but the spacing at the joints has been so small that the small.amount of grout used could not set, and, therefore, could noteffectively seal the joint. By my construction, however, thisobjectionable feature is eliminated by providing a fiume in which thejoints are sealed by comparatively large masses of concrete, and at thesame time maintaining a smooth unbroken surface within the fiume, andavoiding the use of all braces to support the flume proper.

I claim:

1. A concrete flume comprising a plurality of separately formed sideslabs, an inturned flange on the bottom of each side slab and separatelyformed bottom slabs resting on said flanges.

2. A concrete flume comprising a plurality of supporting cross members,a plurality of separately formed side slabs each slab extending from thecenter line of one cross member to the center line of the next crossmember, a bottom to said flume, and webs on the opposite ends of crossmembers adapted to seal the joints between the side I slabs.

3. In a concrete flume formed in. sections and then assembled, sideslabs having inturned flanges on their lower ends, bottom slabs restingupon said flanges and having their side edges beveled, to form betweenthe successive slabs an angular channel extending across the width ofthe flume, a filling of concrete in said channels and a bank of concretein the angle between the bottom and the side.

4. In a concrete flume formed of separately formed sect-ions ofconcrete, a plurality of side slabs and a concrete web sealing thejoints between the side slabs cast in place after the side slabs havebeen placed.

5. A concrete flume comprising supporting cross members, separatelyformed side slabs resting on said cross members with the end of the slaboccurring substantially on the center line of said members, inwardlyprojecting flanges on the lower ends of said side slabs, a plurality ofbottom slabs having their side edges beveled resting upon said flanges,a filling of newly mixed con crete between said edges, banks of newlymixed concrete between the bottom and the sides, and a web of newlymixed concrete overlying the joint between the side slabs.

6. A concrete flume comprising a plurality of separately formed sideslabs, an inturned flange on the bottom of each side slab, separatelyformed bottom slabs resting on said flanges and a bank of concrete inthe angle between the bottom and side.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Visalia, this thday of April SMITH L. STOVALL. In presence of- L. H. GADSBY, D. II.GRUBB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

